UGC-Fox DistributionIn the cutlery drawer of your relationship, at some point, everyone wants to hunker down into the foetal position and be the Little Spoon.
Science says hugging is good for you and progressive social politics have spurned the antiquities of gender norms. We’re essentially operating a millennial free-for-all love in, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the sixties when your mum went to Woodstock.
But still, guys who like to be Little Spoon – my own research would suggest that’s pretty much 99.9 percent (recurring) of men – aren’t quick to confess this so-called blight on their masculinity, with 55 per cent of young males admitting they are anxious about getting laughed at if they are emotionally open.
Max PixelSo, in the name of little spooning permissiveness, UNILAD asked a couple of guys who enjoy a cuddle why they are pro-little spoons for all.
George, 22, told UNILAD he found being little spoon ‘comforting’, while Stew, 25, had a very descriptive take on the bedroom activity:
Every man wants to be a super hero… but when you have a naked woman as your cape you jump right up the food chain of The Avengers.
End of the day, men like to be spooned for the same reason as women.
Pushing aside the patriarchal norms of society everyone wants to be safe and nothing feels more secure than a good old hug.
GettySam, 24, jumped in, picking up the comparisons:
I’d say that for the modern gent being the little spoon is much like a sit down wee.
It’s one of those things that isn’t normally done, but is becoming more and more socially acceptable – particularly as a treat.
I think the stereotypical outdated masculine image is slowly being eroded and more men are becoming comfortable with the idea that sometimes even guys need their head petted and to be told they are pretty.
Sam, who described himself as ‘shorter than the average male’ also explained that being Big Spoon isn’t always a walk in the park.
He continued:
I’m actually just slightly shorter than the average male adult, so big spooning often means a mouth full of hair and sometimes difficulty breathing.
I think most of the time it’s not a matter of asking to be little spoon, you just sort of manoeuvre yourself into the sweet spot.
It’s a lot like Ross from Friends and his ‘hug and roll’ technique.
Warner Bros. TelevisionForking jokes aside, a recent report conducted by Status Online and the Family Stability Network (Fastn), Love, Lust and Loneliness, paints a picture of the obstacles today’s young men navigate in their quest for happiness and revealed a lot of fears and worries.
A concerning 60 per cent worry about being alone, 61 per cent are scared they’ll be a disappointment in a relationship, and 55 per cent are anxious they’ll be laughed at if they are emotionally open.
You can watch the participants discuss what they think is important in relationships below:
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Far from being a matter of the heart, spooning is a human right that should be enjoyed however you please.
So don your partners like giant human scarves and enjoy the warm fuzzies safe in the knowledge that spooning is an activity suitable for all.
Share this with a man who loves to be cuddled, and let’s get this stupid myth of masculinity thrown out onto the scrapheap like the rusty old spoon it is.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.